Traction-wheel



(No Model.)

B. G. RUTH.-

TRACTION WHEEL.

Patented Aug. 9, 1881..v

Plwlo-Lllhogmnber. waimn m o. c.

UNITED STATES DAVID (J. RUTH, OF SUMMERFIELD, ILLINOIS.

TRACTION-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,564, dated August 9, 1881.

Application filed April 19, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID C. RUTH, of Summerfield, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Drive-Wheels for Traction-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My improvement consists, first, iii-constructing the wheel-spokes with an axial movable rod, whose end may be made to project beyond the rim of the wheel to take a firm hold of the ground when required. The second part of my improvement consists in the described mechanism for operating the rods.

In the drawings, Figurel is a sectional View of a wheel in the plane of the axis, showing the cam-wheels in edge view. Fig. 2is an enlarged end View of the wheel-hub, with part of one of the cam-wheels broken out to show part of the hub proper. Fig. 3 is an axial section of the hub. Fig. 4. is a detail side view of the hub, with part in section axial to one of the spokes. Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing the pinion for operating the cam-wheels and the racks by which the pinion is turned. Fig. 6 is a section at 00 a, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a diagram, on a small scale, showing the mechanism for giving vertical movement to the racks which actuate the cam-wheel pinions of both wheels simultaneously. Fig. 8 is a detail of same at right angle with Fig. 7.

A is the hub of the wheel, turning on an arbor, B. I do not confine myself to any special construction, except for the features claimed; but my preferred manner of construction is to lay gas-pipe spokes O in the mold and cast the hub A and rim D upon the spokes. The spokes themselves do not extend to the outside of the rim, but the bore of the pipe is carried through the rim to allow the ends of the rods E to extend through the rim. The hub has radial slots F extending through it and diametrically through each spoke to allow the radial play of thecross-pin G passing through the inner end of the rod E and extending out into curved slots h in the cam-wheels H, so that by the rotary movement of the cam-wheels the rods E are forced outward or inward in the spokes.

The cam-wheels are turned by the following means: Each cam-wheel has a cog-sector, I,

engaging one of the pinions J on a shaft, K, having bearing in the hub, and extending through curved slots L in the cam-wheels, allowing the wheels to turn upon the hubs as a. bearing. Upon one end of the shaft K is a pinion, M, carried around by the revolution of the wheel between an upper cog-sector, N, and an under cog-sector,'(). These sectors are on a vertically-sliding block,I, workingin guides Q, attached to the bracket It. The block P is hung to a link, S, connected at its upper end to the arm 1? of a rock-shaft T. U is a handle secured to the rock-shaft and resting in a notchin the guide-bar V in its normal position.

The handle may be moved upward or downward to depress or raise the sector-block]? respectively, so as to bring either the upper sector, N, or lower sector, 0, into the course of the pinion M,-to give to the pinion a rotary movement to turn the cam-wheels by the mechanism described to either thrust out or draw in the rods E.

I prefer to make the sectors N and O ofsuch length as to give to the pinion Slll'IlClGllt rotary motion to carry the rods E out only onehalf the distance of their extreme outward movement. If it is desired to retain the rods in this position the handle is moved back to the central notch, and the drive-wheel A B C will then continue to revolve without change in the position of the rods; but ifit is desired to extend the rods still farther the lever is held in the same position until the pinion M has again come into engagement with the same cog rack or sector, which gives a furthermovement to the rods.

To cause the retraction of the rods the handle is moved in the opposite direction, and consequently an oppositerotation given to the pinion M and the cam wheels or disks H.

o v are springs which not jointly to draw the handle to its normal position into the central notch to hold the sectors N 0 out of the course of the pinion M as it revolves around with the hub A. f

I do not show any manner of actuating my drive-wheel, as that forms no part of my invention.

It will be seen in the preferred construction of the wheel, as shown and described, that there are two series of spokes, G O, inclined toward each other from the hub toward the rim. The spokes of one series stand opposite the spaces between the spokes of the other series. The rods E may be made of the same diameter throughout, but I prefer to make them, as shown, with a part, E, at the hub and a part, E, at the rim of greater diameter, the central part being reduced to decrease both friction and weight.

As a modification, the racks I may be upon the outer part of the disks H, and the pinionshaft K and pinions J may be outside the disks.

I claim as my invention- 1. The hollow spoke (J, containing adjustable rods E, constructed to project beyond the rim or to be withdrawn within the rim, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of hollow spokes C, mov able rod E, pin G, extending through radial slots F in the hub, and disk or disks H, with inclined slots h receiving the pins, and con structed to actuatethe rods by revolving on the hub.

3. The combination, in a driving-wheel, of the two sets of hollow spokes G O, rods E, pins G, slotted hub A, and slotted disks or wheels H, racks I, pinions J and M on shaft K, and movable rack-block P, with racks constructed to engage the pinion M, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, in a traction-engine, of the two traction-wheels A O D with movable rods E, disks H, with cog-racks I, pinions J and M, shafts K, rack-blocks P, links S, rockshaft T, and handle U to operate the rods E on 5 both wheels simultaneously.

DAVID (J. RUTH.

Witnesses:

JAS. A. ULosE, M. 1)., CHRIST. DETTWEILER. 

